Tigers' Avila exits in 4th with sprained knee

Summary of 4 articles · Updated Oct 19, 2013

The knee is the only issue with Avila at this point. The Detroit Tigers have removed banged-up catcher Alex Avila from Game 5 of the AL Championship Series against the Boston Red Sox with a sprained left knee. Avila had to come out of Game 5 in the fourth… (more) inning on Thursday night with a strained patellar tendon in his left knee. Leyland confirmed that Avila underwent tests for a possible concussion Thursday after taking a foul tip off the front of his mask, but tested fine. That could obviously change once the trainers give him a closer look and consult with Leyland, but the Tigers will hope to have him back and healthy enough to produce when the series moves to Boston on Saturday. With Detroit trailing by four runs, Pena grounded into an inning-ending double play with two on in the first postseason at-bat of his nine-year career.

Alex Avila leaves ALCS Game 5 following home plate collision with David Ross

The life of a catcher is never comfortable, but the last two games have been especially painful for Detroit Tigers backstop Alex Avila. Despite a few lumps behind the plate and a hit-by-pitch at the plate, Avila was able to tough it out in Wednesday's G…